Shanghai’s leading architecture and design firm Neri&Hu has completed the Sanya Wellness Retreat inspired by the ancient Chinese walled city that is elevated on a heavy plinth.

The new hotel, encompassing a total of 83,000-square-metre area, is located in Haitang bay on Hainan Island, a popular resort destination in China. 

Neri&Hu takes cues from the ancient Chinese walled city - which is usually surrounded by water for protection. 

Defined by two parts, the L-shaped hotel consists of guest 343 rooms are dressed with wooden details and perched atop a masonry base where a reception, dining hall, lobby and events spaces are situated.

The complex is made up of two L-shaped building volumes to form a distinguished feature: a water courtyard that becomes a central element from which all the hotel’s public amenities spread and emanate outwards. 

View from water courtyard

"The lobby becomes a garden landscape with a floating lantern hovering above that allows a gentle light to filter in, and with the soft breeze that flows through, guests are immediately transported to a relaxed state of mind for appreciating the slow pace of island life," said Neri&Hu.

"At the same time, the ceilings here are lowered and suppressed in order to simultaneously frame views outward to the azure seas beyond," the office added.

"At every given opportunity, the design tries to embody the genius loci of Hainan, to blend elements from the island’s collective memory, culture and natural features," the studio explained. 

Water courtyard

Details and materials give a reference to the city's local craftsmanship. 

For instance, the masonry walls that envelop the lower levels are clad in handmade clay bricks, while the fabrics and rugs are inspired by textile arts of the Li minority tribe. 

The technique of soaking and pressing bamboo is also employed as a building material, with woven rattan and yellow bronze accents to enhance the layers to the project.

The studio envisioned each guest room as "an individual wooden hut" that contains functional amenities such as the washrooms. 

Corridors

In the negative space between the wooden boxes lies the sleeping and relaxing zones, including the ocean view balconies. 

The alternating rhythm between solid and void, the angled walls and textured material expression, all contribute to a dynamic façade that is constantly playing with light and shadow. 

The corridor between the bedroom units becomes an urban streetscape, an alley where people can traverse and enjoy chance encounters, as such are the delights of being a traveler.

Arrival lobby

Neri&Hu also completed retail space interiors to bring back the original spirit of textile-making process for a a young fashion brand Ms MIN in Shanghai, China. The studio unveiled design for a red concrete factory situated along branches of the Grand Canal in Jiaxing, China.

Neri&Hu was founded by Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu in 2004. Based in Shanghai, the office works internationally to provide architecture, interior, master planning, graphic and product design services.  

Project facts

Project name: Sanya Wellness Retreat

Architecture, Interior and Product Design: Neri&Hu Design and Research Office

Location: Haitang Bay, Sanya, Hainan, China

Date: 2022

Project Type: Architecture, interior, product and graphic design

Site area: 83,000m2

Partners-in-charge: Lyndon Neri, Rossana Hu 

Associate Director in-charge (Architecture): Ziyi Cao

Associate (Architecture project manager): Fong Win Huang 

Associate-in-charge (Interior): Sanif Xu

Design Team: Federico Saralvo, Chris Chen, Chaofu Yeh, Danyan Jin, Rashi Jain, Lina Lee, Fergus Davis, Sela Lim, Jinlong Li, Shiqi Zhang, Dakyung Hwang, Valentina Brunetti, Kim-Lou Monnier, Heather Zhang, Guanlin Lee, Vanessa Wu, Lisa Kong, Cheri Lee, Ashley Kehan Shen, Mengyang Wang, Nianshan Zhang, Gloria Guo, Kevin Gao, Callum Holgate, Haiming Wang, Jean Jiao, Ji Chao, Jerry Kuo, Echo Li, Yoki Yu, Amber Shi, Zhikang Wang, Matthew Sung, Nicolas Fardet, Junho Jeon, Sheng Yin, Haiou Xin, July Huang, Lyuqitiao Wang

Consultants

Local Design Institute (architecture): Beijing Institute of Architectural Design Co., LTD

Local Design Institute (interior): Beijing Libeiya Architectural Decoration Engineering Co., LTD

Façade: Schmidlin Shanghai Co., LTD

Lighting: J+B Studios Architectural Lighting Design (Beijing) Co., LTD

Landscape: L&A Design (concept design), Arktree Landscape Design Co., LTD. (design development)

Signage: Corlette Design (Shanghai) Co., LTD

All images © Chen Hao.

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